Nidheeswarar Temple, Annamputhur – The Temple

Nidheeswarar Temple, Annamputhur – The Temple

This Temple is facing towards east. The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antrala and Ardha Mandapam. There is a shed common for Sanctum and Mother shrine. Nandi and Balipeedam can be found facing the sanctum in this shed. Presiding Deity is called as Nidheeswarar and is facing east. He is housed in the sanctum in the form of Lingam. He is about 4.5 feet tall on a lotus base (Peetham) and just the Lingam is measured to be 7 feet with 4.5 feet above the ground level and 2.5 feet below the ground which is unique.

Dwarapalakas can be found at the entrance of the sanctum. Ganesha, Dakshinamoorthy, Lingodbhava, Vishnu and Brahma are the Koshta idols located around the sanctum walls. Chandikeswarar Shrine can be found in his usual location. Mother is called as Kanaga Thirupurasundari. She is housed in a separate south facing shrine.

There is a west facing shrine housing Dhana Akarshana Bhairavar and Kala Bhairavar in the Temple premises. Both the idols are housed in same shrine but separated by an intermediate wall. There is a shrine for Sivaloganathar Siddhar in the Temple premises. A 2000 years old pounder used for pounding herbal plants to make medicine can be found near the Temple premises.

There are shrines for Lakshmi Ganapathi, Lord Murugan (Kalyana Subramanya) with his consorts Valli & Deivanai and Navagrahas in the Temple premises. Saptha Matha idols found in the nearby Selli Amman Temple are dated to Pallava Period. It might be formed as part of the ancient Temple. Lord Brahma’s idol can also be seen in the nearby ancient Selli Amman Temple.